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Et Tu, Suzie? Et Tu?

Her name was Suzie. She was my dog. When I decided I wanted a Jack Russell Terrier over five years ago, I really went all out. I’d heard horror stories about spaz-wad Jack Russells, and how they can make your life miserable, and how dedicated they can be to getting their heads stuck in armadillo holes and other sticky situations. But I was determined to find a good one. And I did, at a reputable Jack Russell breeder down on the border of Texas near El Paso. I communicated with the breeder at length, and finally selected Suzie, the runt of the litter, over the phone due to the breeder’s assurance that she was the sweetest, most docile Jack Russell on the planet.

She turned out to be just that. Coming to live with us when she was merely the size of my hand, she became an integral member of our family and stayed that way for over four years. She sat on our laps, performed groovy Jack Russell tricks, and nuzzled close to us in the evenings when she became drowsy. Suzie was the perfect dog…until a year ago, when she was suddenly and unmercifully snatched away from us.

She didn’t die, if that’s what you’re thinking. She wasn’t hit by a car or gobbled up by coyotes. Nope. Instead, Suzie left me for someone else. Someone I know. Someone, for Pete’s sake, in my ownfamily.

She left me for my father-in-law, Marlboro Man’s own father. I still can’t believe it happened. The heartless wench left me for him.

And yes, as I was doing my Jack Russell Terrier research over five years ago, I did maybe possibly sorta kinda read that Jack Russells, more than any other breed, can be prone to zeroing in on one human "favorite" and will develop complete tunnel vision and have nothing whatsoever to do with any other human on earth for the rest of its days. But call me crazy, call me naive, I thought for awhile that human was me.

I was wrong. See, a year ago, while Marlboro Man and I innocently endeavored to take a weekend off and travel to a faraway land (53 miles away) and spend a couple of nights in a hotel by ourselves (well, excuuuuuuse US!), we left our four children and our dog, Suzie, with my dear in-laws, Marlboro Man’s parents. But when we returned, though my kids were glad to see me, Suzie was aloof and emotionally shut off. I felt it immediately. The excitement she’d shown for four years when I walked through the door was gone. Not diminished…gone. Apparently, because my mother-in-law had been neck-deep in our spawn the whole weekend—what, taking care of four children is difficult? A little greuuuuuuling, perhaps?—my father-in-law had taken it upon himself to care for Suzie, my beloved Jack Russell Terrier. He threw her in his pick-up and towed her along with him wherever he went, even putting her on his saddle with him as he rode his horse.

The result? In the blink of an eye, in the course of one weekend, he became her human. And Her Human he has remained ever since.

Just look. She can’t let him out of her sight.

As I snapped these photos at the farm last month, I was desperately and pathetically shouting, "Suzie!!! Suzie!!!" But she didn’t even look in my direction.

The pain is still very acute. My heart bleeds Jack Russell tears.

Oh, and it only took a couple of weeks after that weekend one year ago for me to relent and just hand Suzie over to her new human for good. It was clear she would never look at me the way she looked at him. Today, she’s politely affectionate toward me, even wagging her tail ever so slightly when she sees me after a long period of time. But there’s no question she’s where she belongs.

This was a very special moment at the farm last month. I was riding along in the gator, taking photos of the countryside and everyone gathering cattle. I invited Suzie to come along with me…and she actually accepted, hopping in the Gator and parking herself on my lap. My heart sang. It made me remember the good ol’ days.

But then she caught a glimpse of my father-in-law and it was all over. She hopped off my lap with lightning speed, even scratching my leg with her sharp little toenail. Heartless wench.

Suzie?

Suzie?

"If you love something, set it free." I heard that in a Sinead O’Connor song once and it really stuck with me. Or maybe it was a Hallmark card. Or it could have been a fortune cookie.

Either way, they’re words to live by.

Suzie?…Suzie?

She can’t even look at me anymore. Canine betrayal. It cuts like a knife. I heard that in a Bryan Adams song once…

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PS I finally have my cast Iron Griddle, Mother’s Day Rocks, we are eating steaks-a-la PW this weekend!

http://richardandmelissa.blogspot.com Melissa.K

Fickle wench … clearly a gal who cain’t say no …
I adore Jack Russells. Mine, who was called Missy, was a fantastic mole-digger-outer. She used to bring her trophies so proudly into the house.
She also used to dive into the dam and then shake herself all over me when she hopped out.
But she never left me for anyone, thank heavens!

http://clearblogs.com/Photorific/ Jenn

That is tough Rea!
Just like their human counterparts at times they have no sense of how their actions will affect you.
Suzie is a love em and leave em kind of dog! Perhaps in her older years when she looses some of her energy she will want to ride with you in the gator and take pictures.. rather than chasing horses around all day…. That will be your time..

http://richardandmelissa.blogspot.com Melissa.K

Me again … I was thinking that Elvis probably said it best:
“Ain’t nothin’ but a hounddog …”
She’s so dang CUTE though … looks like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.

http://iambossy.com BOSSY

Sinead O’Connor also made the words “Nothing Compares To You” famous- and in the case of Confessions Of A Pioneer Woman, that’s true!

http://shrewshutters.wordpress.com Shrewspeaks

Drama, betrayal, jealousy (yes, admit it), special plot twist.

These are the days of our paws.

jenny in MN

Ree,
So sorry for your loss…little stink pot of a dog. She is very cute. The good news out of this story is that you know she is in a happy home with someone who loves her. We adopted a dog from an animal rescue. He even had his tag on and the owner had been contacted many times. The owner apparently didn’t want his dog. This has turned out to be the most loving and funny dog I’ve ever had. He really wants to be a lap dog too…unfortunately, he is a Black Lab…and doesn’t realize he weighs 62 lbs. Great pics again! Thanks for the post and story.

KatieK

This is my favorite post yet. Not the photos, but the post is wonderful…heh heh.

Marjorie

Ree, I am SURE that your heart is broken! I, too, had a jackie named Squirty. She was the sweetest thing and she despised my husband, not meeee! Yippee 🙂 I miss her but when she passed we got a retired greyhound and he is the greatest thing since sliced bread!

And my boys are very loyal too ~ lucky for me I’m still the object of their affection!

joann in Texas

maybe you should have gotten yourself a male jack russell terrier?

i usually get my dogs from the pound. my first and third dog have been terrier mix’s. they both love(d) people but always came back to me!

i love the suzie shots. i was wondering if FIL ever put her in his saddle! and you answered that question! 🙂

Toby from New Orleans

Best post ever, I loved it….pics and all. You told your story wonderful, I really felt your pain, but in the end you showed a true dog lovers love. You just wanted Susie to be happy and where she belonged. You are a great Human Ree.

Ps. this would make a great childrens book

http://www.gallagherfarm.com Nicole

We’ll ship you a replacement wirehair dachshund. Once you’ve had a wirehair- you’ll never go back!

http://kristismess.blogspot.com/ Kristi

Poor Ree.

http://freefallingskyward.blogspot.com/ freefalling(Letitia)

Great post – especially poignant for me, as I had to go and pick up my dear Jackie from the vet today – he had 5 teeth removed! Broke my heart. Poor little fellow – too much tug of war and ball chewing!

ALDOGMOM

Go to your local shelter…pick yourself out a nice dog…enjoy…shelter dogs are loyal to you for life..they’re just glad to have somebody to love them.

Fickle little witch. 🙂

http://www.booshay.blogspot.com Miz Booshay

CAVE CANEM.

Indeed.

They breaketh your hearteth.

carla

Oh Ree, what a terrible drama to have unfold. Bad dog, bad! Cute, but bad. She loves her man. Don’t girlfriends (and girl dogs) know that men come and go, but girlfriends are forever??
You need a designer dog. My neighbors have a Shi zu/Yorkie mix and while she thinks she’s a big dog (chases deer), she has her cutie, tiny dog moments all day long. Four pounds of pure delight, and I don’t even care for tiny dogs much.

patty

Awwww….Ree, you are a wonderful human being for a dog to have had. How lucky your little dog is, you can hardly see her little self over the grass. I’ll bet all the running around behind MM’s dad works out any Jack Russell energy!

kim-d

Awww, that’s sad and happy all at the same time! Suzie is such a cute little girl, and it’s really cute seeing the pix of little-bitsy her trotting along with the big ole horse and her human. Still, kind of a bummer when you own dog rejects you. HAHAHA! Just joking. But here’s the deal–if Marlboro Man got even a smidgen of his rugged good looks from his father, then I guess I can understand why your little girl dog likes him better!

http://www.gallagherfarm.com Nicole

Ree-

Your main mistake was getting a girl. A boy dog would be more loyal to you. Girls are fickle.

hana

Aw…Susie! That’s quite a sad yet happy story. I do think dogs adopt their owners….mine thought of me as the meal truck & my dad as the real owner – only he could be conned in giving her homemade cookies and not those dog bisquits! Actually “If you love someone, set them free” brings to my mind that Sting song.

Oh…and today…mysteriously awake at 3:30am pst. At least I had your blog and some international e-mail to keep me amused! Thanks! TGIF!

mils

I may have missed this but – whatever happened to Nell? Did she recover from her accident?

http://hickchic.blogspot.com Heidi the Hick

I’ve never had a JRT but hear they are quite incredible. There are a few on my street and man, seeing them, it just reinforces that these are supposed to be working dogs. They are the yappiest most obnoxious little dogs if they’re in town. Of course I never see these particular ones going for walks — no wonder they’re half crazy.

I love seeing that little Jack out there in the field, following MM sr’s horse. She looks so happy! I’m only sorry that her heart ended up belonging to someone who’s not you.

Next time get a pug- they have a whole other list of personality quirks!!!